Sustrans invite you to ditch the car for Clean Air Day

19 June 2019

Sustrans are taking part in a wide range of activities across Northern Ireland to promote Clean Air Day on Thursday 20 June. Clean Air Day is a national campaign to raise awareness of the problems caused by poor air quality.

To mark the day, Sustrans are inviting people to ditch the car for the day and either walk, cycle or take public transport in an effort to lower air pollution levels.  In East Belfast at CS Lewis Square you can take part in some fun activities including a pedal powered smoothie bike or a Geocache Walk and fill out a pledge card on what you will change for Clean Air Day.

The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast continually has congestion and car parking problems that contribute to poor air quality in the area, Sustrans Workplaces team will be at the hospital and encouraging staff to walk, cycle to work or use public transport. 

In Derry~Londonderry, Sustrans are supporting Derry City and Strabane District Council in their campaign to lower air pollution levels in the North West. There will be on-street promotions in both Strabane and at the Foyle Arena, as well as a lunchtime walk for Council staff.

Sustrans volunteers will also have a street presence in Armagh, which was found to have the worst particulate air pollution in Northern Ireland according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report in 2017. The WHO surveyed the air quality of the UK’s 51 towns and cities. It found 44 failed the test for fine sooty particles smaller than 2.5 microns across that have been linked to heart disease and premature death.

Armagh was the worst in Northern Ireland with 14 micrograms per cubic metre. Belfast was next on 12 with Derry next on 11 micrograms per cubic metre. London and Leeds both had 15 micrograms of the particles in every cubic metre-sized parcel of air.

Air quality is becoming an increasing problem in towns and cities across Northern Ireland, it is not only damaging our environment but also our health. Every year, up to 36,000 people die from air pollution in the UK.[1]

Anne Madden from Sustrans said: “Road traffic is a major cause of air pollution which is damaging our health and the environment. We need urgent action by government to reduce air pollution. Governments need to do more to encourage less car use, invest in public transport and cycling infrastructure; and enable more people to walk and cycle for their everyday journeys. We believe government must take a “fewer not just cleaner” approach to motor traffic.”

There are some simple steps you can take that will have a big impact on the air you and your family breathes.  Making cleaner travel choices is just one way to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.  What will you pledge for Clean Air Day?

To learn more about how air pollution could be affecting you and your family’s health, visit www.cleanairday.org.uk and follow the campaign #CleanAirDay and #LoveAir on Twitter

[1] ‘Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (2018)

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Children at risk of day-long exposure to polluted air inside and outside London Classrooms

18 June 2019

Sustrans has collaborated on a new report, which today has been published by Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL). Entitled “ Healthy Air, Healthier Children,“ it shows the air quality inside - as well as outside - primary schools across Europe must be improved to protect children’s health and ensure optimal learning.

The data for London was built on a citizen science monitoring initiative that measured indoor and outdoor air pollutants at seven schools in Lambeth, which is one of the most polluted boroughs in London. It shows the presence of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) inside and outside all classrooms, highlighting the urgent need to further tackle traffic pollution. The monitoring also found high levels of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) inside classrooms, indicating the need for better ventilation. 

Jonathan Grigg, Professor of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine at Queen Mary University, said: “This report highlights that exposure of children to toxic compounds in the air not only occurs outdoors - but also in schools. More research is therefore urgently needed on the health effects of these exposures, and health-based indoor exposure limits must be developed for school children.”

Air pollution is the number one environmental threat to health in Europe and globally, leading to 400,000 premature deaths and hundreds of billions of euros in health costs in the EU each year. In the UK alone, around 40,000 deaths are attributable to exposure to air pollution. Evidence demonstrates that children are particularly at risk from polluted air, which can increase the risk of a child developing asthma and lead to an increase in the number and severity of asthma attacks, especially if a child lives close to a busy road. Indeed, the UK has the highest prevalence of childhood asthma across Europe.

Air pollution can also impact a child’s heart, brain and nervous system development, even before birth. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that no level of air pollution can be considered safe. It is already known that London exceeds EU NO 2 air quality standards, with half of emissions coming from road traffic. For the HEAL citizen science monitoring project, particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) were monitored during March-April 2019, with the active participation of schools and children and HEAL’s partner organisation Sustrans. The initiative was also rolled out in five more European capitals - Warsaw, Berlin, Paris, Madrid and Sofia - totalling 50 schools.

In London, outdoor NO 2 (a pollutant coming predominantly from traffic, especially diesel-powered vehicles), measured at the school entrances for one month, came close to the annual EU legal limit and WHO guideline of 40μg/m 3 , with averages of 35μg/m 3 and 36μg/m 3 NO 2 at two schools. These levels are averages, however, and are likely to have been higher during school hours, particularly drop off and pick up times, due to higher traffic volumes compared to evenings and weekends. The project also found NO 2 inside each of the seven classrooms ranging from an average of 12 μg/m 3 up to 26 μg/m 3 . As there are no indoor sources of NO 2 , this pollutant is travelling in from outside.

Yvonne Morris from Hitherfield Primary School, one of the seven schools that actively participated in the project, said: “We take air quality very seriously in our school, as we want to provide the best environment we can for our children inside and outside the school. It was very interesting to monitor the pollution, particularly inside the school. Before we started the project, we didn’t really know much about nitrogen dioxide, the fact it might travel into the buildings and how harmful that could be.” Keeping windows and doors closed to prevent pollution from entering is not a solution, as there is a need to air out classrooms, especially to decrease CO 2 levels. A previous study expressed the need to limit CO 2 to 1,000ppm to prevent a negative impact on academic performance, as higher concentrations can contribute to headaches, dizziness and the inability to concentrate. The HEAL study found levels of between 1,195ppm and 2,750ppm in London classrooms.

Xavier Brice, CEO at Sustrans that carried out the air quality monitoring around the seven schools in London, said: “This report contributes to the mounting evidence that air pollution is a real threat to our health and wellbeing, and in particular to our children’s. Until we end our reliance on motor vehicles for local journeys, the plague of pollution over our streets and inside schools will continue. The UK government needs to show leadership by making it easier for local authorities to close streets outside schools to motor vehicles during drop off and pick up times, and deliver a network of walking and cycling routes to school so that every child is able to travel by foot, cycle or scooter in safety and with confidence. The failure to resolve this denies our children their basic human right - to breathe clean air.”

Jemima Hartshorn, Founder of Mums for Lungs, a network of parents campaigning for clean air, said: “We are really supportive of this project. Lambeth is one of the most polluted boroughs in the UK and the air quality is having a negative impact on children’s health. By measuring the levels of air pollution in schools, where children spend so much time, this project will raise real awareness amongst pupils, parents and policymakers about the urgent need for action – and will allow stakeholders to ensure that the best and most pollution-reducing action is implemented.”

The report includes recommendations for policy-makers, but also for school authorities, parents and the health sector. These focus on the need for comprehensive, long-term monitoring, but also a range of measures that will clean up the air outside, so pollution does not travel inside the classrooms.

Anne Stauffer, Director for Strategy and Campaigns at HEAL, said: “HEAL’s snapshot investigation underlines the need for policy, teacher and parent action on clean air in schools. This should start with policy-makers prioritising healthy schools where children can breathe healthy air. It is unacceptable that the cities in our investigation, and many more in the EU, exceed the EU’s air quality standards. In cities, emissions from cars, buses and lorries are a major contributor to poor air quality, so investments should be made into not only reducing traffic around schools, for example with a ban on engine idling or restricted school streets, but also to finance those measures that will lead to a decrease in car use overall.”

Read the full report

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Your views on cities and towns

14 June 2019

We want your help to shape our work in cities and towns.

If you live in a city or town in the UK we want to hear about your experience and views on what would make them better places to live. Please take part in our survey today.

The survey closes on the 8th July at 5pm.

As most people live, work, study and play in urban areas we believe it is important that the many benefits of living in cities are towns are accessible to everyone and that living in them contributes to our health and happiness.

Sustrans has always worked in cities and towns – from schools to workplaces, transformation of city centres to research on public opinion and a whole lot more – we have been working for decades to make them easier places for everyone to walk and cycle.

We are currently planning the future of how we work in cities and towns – learning from what we’ve done before and setting ambitious new aims for what we do next. 

Your views will be a vital part in shaping our next steps and we’d love to hear them. You can share them via our survey here.

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£6.8 million boost to help thousands more rail commuters travel by bike

14 June 2019

Thousands of new cycle spaces will be added to rail stations around the country thanks to new investment in the Cycle Rail programme.

Xavier Brice, CEO for Sustrans, commented:

“Walking and cycling should be the easiest way for everyone to get to their local station, making our towns and cities better places to live by reducing congestion and air pollution, and improving our physical and mental health. But it’s not always easy.

"Train operators and their partners have come up with a range of schemes that will make it easier for people to get to and from their station under their own power, which we hope will encourage more people to choose cycling and walking as part of their everyday journey.

"The Cycle Rail programme has already tripled the number of cycle parking spaces at more than 500 stations, bringing the total to over 80,000.”

Find out more about the Cycle Rail Programme

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Sustrans Reaction to vote on 20mph

13 June 2019

Sustrans Scotland is hugely disappointed at the Scottish Parliament’s rejection of the 20mph (restricted roads) Bill. 

We had worked alongside many third sector bodies and charities to present evidence of the benefits of 20mph in making our streets safer, and our towns and cities better for people.  This remains Sustrans position and will continue to advocate for 20mph as one of the best ways to improve places for people walking and cycling.

We welcome the contributions made by many MSPs, from the SNP, from Scottish Labour and from the Scottish Greens in support of the Bill.  It is clear that road safety is not just a health issue, but also a social justice issue, and commend the MSPs who highlighted this. 

We are also heartened by the broad support for 20mph in principle, even amongst many who do not support the 20mph (restricted roads) Bill. 

We respect the vote of the parliament and will reflect on the vote against. We are also committed to working with any interested local authorities looking to roll out 20mph.

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Sustrans and Wandsworth organise borough’s first ever Play Street

12 June 2019

We’ve been working in partnership with the London Borough of Wandsworth and Granard Primary School to transform the road outside the school into the borough’s first ever Play Street, making it safer, less polluted and more enjoyable for pupils to walk, cycle or scoot.

Making positive change happen

Our extensive experience with schools and local authorities throughout London means that we can make positive change happen. In Wandsworth, we worked with Granard School on creating a Play Street event for the children and their families and we liaised with the borough on behalf of the school for permission to close the road. We will be monitoring parents’ views of the Play Street and providing Wandsworth with a report and evaluation which is part of our work to support the borough in their ambition to role out regular School Streets more widely. 

“ It’s great to be working with Granard School and the London Borough of Wandsworth, as they take the first step in creating a safer and cleaner environment outside the school. ”

-   Sustrans’ London Director, Matt Winfield Pedal power and freedom to play

Children were able to walk, scoot, cycle and play freely outside their school in the afternoon of Wednesday 12 June 2019 when the council closed Cortis Terrace to motor traffic in the afternoon. By opening the street to children and parents they provided children with a safe space to play. The aim of closing the street outside the school was to ease congestion, improve air quality and road safety. These are issues that many families are concerned about, particularly during drop-off and pick-up time.

Our June Play Street included fun playground games, scooter and bike skills and a smoothie making bike! Everyone had great fun making their own delicious, nutritious drinks using pedal power.

Big step to a safer and cleaner school environment

Organising a Play Street is a great first step to making the roads outside schools safer and less polluted. A Play Street can also lead to a more permanent School Street, where the road restricts motor traffic access every school day at drop-off and pick-up times.

“ By demonstrating that closing the road outside our school is achievable, and by measuring its impact and sharing our findings, we are aiming to encourage more regular street closures. ”

- Headteacher Cheryl Grigg Together we make a difference

We already have a great relationship with Granard Primary School, delivering our bespoke schools behaviour change programme Bike It Plus. Our Bike It officer, Emma, works closely with the school delivering activities such as bikers breakfasts, classroom activities and topical assemblies. 

Sustrans’ London Director Matt Winfield said:

“It’s great to be working with Granard School and the London Borough of Wandsworth, as they take the first step in creating a safer and cleaner environment outside the school.

“All the schools across London are in locations which breach World Health Organisation limits for air quality. Urgent action is needed, and we want national government to support local authorities to make it safer and easier for parents and children to walk, scoot and cycle to school. To do that, the roads outside schools need to feel safe. A great start is eliminating motor traffic at the beginning and end of the school day.

“It’s wonderful that Granard School has ambitions to do this on a more regular basis and that Wandsworth is keen to roll out School Streets to other locations in the borough. Hopefully, others will follow Granard’s example.”

Granard’s Headteacher Cheryl Grigg said:

“The streets around our school are often dominated by idling cars and traffic at drop-off and pick-up times, resulting in air pollution and an environment that is generally unpleasant for walking and cycling.

“By demonstrating that closing the road outside our school is achievable, and by measuring its impact and sharing our findings, we are aiming to encourage more regular street closures.

“Ultimately, we want to affect a permanent change in the way children travel to school and also hope to inspire more schools to try this approach and to raise awareness to the public about travel and its impact on health, well-being and the environment.”

While vehicle traffic is normally prevented from entering any school streets, it does not apply to local residents who live in the streets or drivers with a disability who need access. The schemes apply only during term times.

Read more about our work in London

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Double boost for cycling in Londonderry

12 June 2019

Cycling in Derry~Londonderry got a double boost with two new resources launched in Bike Week (8-16 June).

A new online map was launched by Derry and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) which marks out all local cycling routes, bike parking and useful cycling facilities such as bike repair stations.

Launching the new resource, Derry City and Strabane District Mayor, Councillor Michaela Boyle, said it would be a really valuable guide for people who cycle, especially those new to the area.

“I’m delighted to see the launch of the online map which offers quick and easy access to the latest information on all our local greenways, park cycle paths, shared use paths and on road cycle lanes in our District,” she declared.

“Making it easier for people to travel in a more active way is a key objective for Council as it’s good for our environment, reducing congestion and carbon emissions. And it’s great for people’s physical and mental health.

“With our ever-expanding traffic-free greenway network and the development of our parks and green infrastructure we are making really positive strides towards developing a more sustainable region.”

New bike storage unit

Commuters who would like to cycle but don’t have access to a bike can now benefit from a new bike unit which has opened this week at Ebrington Square in the city.

Six new bikes will be available from the bike storage unit as part of the Leading The Way programme, funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA) in the north west. Sustrans delivers the programme to encourage commutes by cycling or walking to public sector staff from the Western Health and Social Care Trust, DCSDC and PHA.

Krysten Maier, Sustrans Active Travel Officer said: "We’re really pleased to be able to extend the use of six new bikes to employees through the Leading the Way project. Ebrington is a wonderful public space in Derry and it will be a great meeting point for staff across the various organizations to come together for a range of cycle-based activities.

“With a close proximity to the Peace Bridge and Derry’s extensive riverside greenway network, we’re hoping this new bike storage unit will be a great way to break down some of the barriers that staff in the North West face when it comes to cycling and inspire them to get back on the bike more and more.”

View the new cycling map by visiting the Council’s website Find out more about our routes in Northern Ireland To find out more about the Leading The Way programme contact Krysten.  

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